RESEARCH - Circulating hepcidin in the crossroads of anemia and inflammation associated with RA

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Intern Med. 2009;48(6):421-6. Epub 2009 Mar 16.

Circulating hepcidin in the crossroads of anemia and inflammation

associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Demirag MD, Haznedaroglu S, Sancak B, Konca C, Gulbahar O, Ozturk MA, Goker B.

Section of Rheumatology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of circulating hepcidin, which is a

homeostatic regulator of iron metabolism and a mediator of

inflammation, in anemia associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODS: Forty patients with rheumatoid arthritis (19 with anemia and

21 without anemia), 12 patients with iron deficiency anemia and 14

healthy adults were studied. Serum hepcidin levels were analyzed with

hepcidin prohormone solid phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS: The mean serum hepcidin levels were significantly higher in

patients with rheumatoid arthritis with anemia compared to healthy

adults and those with iron deficiency anemia. The active rheumatoid

arthritis group had significantly higher mean serum hepcidin levels

than the inactive rheumatoid arthritis group. In the rheumatoid

arthritis group, serum hepcidin levels were positively correlated with

disease activity, but inversely correlated with hemoglobin levels. The

serum hepcidin level was found to be a significant predictor for

hemoglobin level.

CONCLUSION: Serum hepcidin levels are closely associated with disease

activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients and might play a role in the

pathobiology of chronic disease anemia associated with rheumatoid

arthritis.

PMID: 19293540

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19293540

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Read the full article here:

http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/internalmedicine/48/6/421/_pdf

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